Electrical heating device



Feb. 9, 1937; L. HAwKlNs 2,070,482

ELECTRCAL HEATING DEVICE Filed Aug. l5, 1935 gmc/who@ lim/zins Patented Feb. 9, 1937 A UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical heating device designed primarily for use in connection with chick brooders, but it is to be understood that a heating device, in accordance with this invention, may be employed in any connection for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a simple, compact, durable and inexpensive structure whereby heat may be applied directly to the backs of chicks, in order that chicks housed within a brooder may be warmed in substantially the same manner and to an extent as they would be by a hen.

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts which fall within. the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view lengthwise of the heating device,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device partly broken away,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the heating circuit closing structure, and

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 3.

The heating device includes a horizontally disposed supporting frame, preferably of rectangular contour, having its inner-side face rabbeted throughout at its upper portion to form the frame with an inner endless shoulder 5 between its horizontal median and upper face. The frame 4 has its lower face formed with an endless groove 6 of semi-circular cross section.

Mounted upon and throughout shoulder 5, as well as abutting the inner face of frame 4, is a heat insulating element l of platelike form consisting of a flat panel-like upper section 8 oi fibrous material and a lower section 9 formed of a web of asbestos fabric. The sections 8, 9 are of the same width and length and iixedly secured together. The'section 8 is of greater thickness than that of section 9, but of a thickness to have its upper face disposed below the upper face of frame 4. .Arranged upon the top edges of and secured to the frame 4 is a top closure member lil therefor. The member I has its edges ilush with the outer side face of the frame 4. The element 'l is maintained in spaced relation to member I9 and retained against shoulder by an intermediate spacing strip and a pair of outer spacing strips. These strips are The strips have their upper (Cl. 11S-33) faces flush with the top edges of the frame 4 and their ends abut parallel portions of the inner faces of the sides of frame 4. The outer strips are of greater width than the width of the shoulder 5. The outer strips abut the inner face of member I6. The outer strips abut the inner faces of the ends of the frame 4.

The element l' has secured thereto and depending from section 9 thereof a row l2 of spaced parallel insulators I3, I4, I5, i6, I1, and i8; a row I9 of spaced parallel insulators 29, 2|, 22, and 23; and a row 24 of spaced parallel insulators 25, 26, 21, and 28. The row I9 is arranged between rows l2 and 24 but in proximity to row 24. The roW I2 is positioned in proximity to one end and the row 24 in proximity to the other end of element 1. The insulators are in the form of spools carried by headed suspension elements 2B anchored in element 1. The spools 20, 2l, 22 and 23 are arranged in parallel planes extending centrally, respectively, between spools i3, I4; I4, I5; I6, I1; and I1, I8. The spools, with the exception of spool 26, are employed for suspending a heater element 29 from the element l'. The element 29 is in the form of a resistance coil 30 strung around the spools which suspend it, and in this connection from the end 3| of element 29, the latter passes respectively around spools 25, I3, 20, I4, 2|, I5, I6, 22, I1, 23, I3, 24 and to and beyond spool 21. The other end of element 29 is indicated at 32.

Extending through member I0 and element 1 is a sleeve 33 of insulation having an enlarged upper end 34. A heating current extension coupling of the plug-intype is indicated at 35, and it includes a pair of leading-in-wires 36, 31. The wire 36 is electrically attached to the end 3l of heater element 29 and passes around spool 26. The wire 31 is electrically attached to a terminal 38 forming a part of a heating circuit closing structure 39. The end 32 of element 29 is electrically attached to a terminal 40 on a horizontally disposed conducting plate 4I which also forms an element of structure 39. The latter also includes a vertical arm 42 of conducting material integral with a side of plate 4I. The arm 42 near its lower end has a contact point 43. Secured to the lower face of element 1 is a tapered strip 44 of non-conducting material. A depending angle-shaped bracket 45 is secured to strip 44 near one end of the latter. The plate The element 46 is of bi-metallic material,

disposed on one of its lengthwise edges and is secured at one end terminal thereof to bracket 45 by the terminal 38 and a holdfast means 41. The element 46 has secured to its end terminal portion a plate 48 of conducting material having a contact point 49 which engages contact point 43. At one end of strip 44 is a depending block 49a of insulating material against which is positioned the plate 4 I. Arranged against the plate 4l is a horseshoe shaped magnet 50 which straddles the arm 42 and has its ends spaced from the element 46. A retainer 5I is seated on magnet 50 and secured to the block 49 and strip 44 by the holdfast means 52 which also secures plate 4l against block 49.

There is associated with element 46 a pressure applying member 53 therefor. The member 53 includes a pair of arms 54, 55 connected together by a spring loop 56. The arm 54 is permanently anchored to element 46. The arm 55 is of angle shape contour and is slidably seated upon a contracting device 51 for member 53. The device 51 includes a head 58 arranged against strip 44, an L-shaped arm 59 formed of the legs 6l), 6l. The leg 66 extends through head 58 and has slidably mounted thereon the arm 54. The arm 55 abuts leg 6l. When the device 51 is operating the leg 66 will be horizontal and the leg 6| vertical. Secured to the head 58 and extending upwardly through strip 44, plate 1 and member lll is a manually actuable means 62 for rotating head 58 for shifting arm 55 relative to arm 54 to increase the application of pressure on element 46. The rotative movement of head 58 in opposite directions is limited by the stops 63, 64 carried by strip 44.

The bottom of frame 4 is closed by a flexible member 65 preferably of rubber. The member 65 has its marginal portions 66 extended into the groove 6. Abutting against the portions 66 is a frame 61 of circular cross section which is anchored to frame 4 by the holdfast devices 68 whereby member 65 is permanently secured to frame 4 and forms, in connection with plate 1, a heating chamber 69. The closure member I9 for the top of frame 4 is reinforced by side and end angle irons 10. The end irons 10 have secured thereto flexible suspension means 1I for suspending the heating device within the brooder. Each of the irons 10 is formed of a horizontal and vertical flange. The horizontal anges of said irons 1D are seated upon the marginal portions of the closure member l0. The vertical flanges of the irons 10 abut against the outer face of the frame 4.

The structure 39 is of the thermostatic controlled type and its controlling means is the element 46 which constitutes a thermostat which functions, when the temperature of chamber 69 is above a predetermined point to expand or curl in a direction to move plate 48 away from contact 43 whereby contact 49 will be separated from contact 43 and the heating circuit opened. The movement of plate 48 is had against the action of the pressure applying member 53. When the air in the chamber 69 has cooled to the point 'where contact 49 is gradually approaching contact 43 to close the heating circuit and has so nearly approached the point of contact as to leave a gap across which a sparking or arcing action may take place, the magnet 50 draws the contact 49 into quick engagement with the contact 43 to eliminate the possibility of arcing or sparking. The magnet 50 is of such power as not to have 'any material effect on the normal action of the element 46 in opening the heating circuit at a predetermined temperature.

The manually operating means 62 consists of a shaft 12 connected to head 58. 'Ihe outer end of shaft 12 carries a thumb or finger piece 13 which frictionally engages with member i9 for latching shaft 12 to hold the pressure applying member in its adjusted position.

The heating circuit, through the medium of structure 39 is automatically opened when the temperature in chamber 69 extends above a predetermined point. The heating circuit is closed when the temperature in chamber 69 is below a predetermined point. After the heating circuit is automatically opened, by a rise in temperature, it is automatically closed when the temperature lowers below a predetermined point.

In the use of the device, the chamber 69 is heated from the coil 36 and the heat transmitted to the bottom of the device provided by the member 65. The latter is so positioned in the broeder to have direct contact with the backs of the chicks Within the brooder. Owing to 'the ilexibility of the member 65 it will substantially conform in contour with the backs of the chicks whereby they will be warned in substantially the same manner as they would be if brooded with a hen.

What I claim is:

l. In an electrical heating device for chick brooders, a horizontally disposed frame having the upper portion of its inner face rabbeted throughout to provide therein and below the top thereof an endless internal shoulder, a heat insulating element of plate-like form mounted on and throughout said shoulder and having its edges abutting the inner face of the frame below the top of the latter, a set of spaced parallel flat combined spacing and retaining strips for and positioned on said element, said strips having their upper faces iiush with the top edges and having their ends abutting the inner face of said frame, a top member of plate-like form mounted on and secured to the top edges and iiuslr with the outer face of said frame, and a flexible bottom forming member having its marginal portions anchored in the bottom edges of the frame and forming, in connection with the latter and said element, a chamber for receiving an electrical heating means.

2. In an electrical heating device for chick brooders, a horizontally disposed frame having the upper portion of its inner face rabbeted throughout to provide therein and below the top thereof an endless internal shoulder, a web of asbestos fabric mounted on and throughout said shoulder and having its edges abutting the inner face of the frame below the top of the latter, a flat panellike body of brous material mounted on and secured to said web and having its edges abutting the inner face of said frame below the tcp of the latter, an intermediate and a pair of outer spaced parallel fiat combined retaining and spacing strips positioned on said panel-like body and having their upper faces flush with' the top edges of said frame, said intermediate strip having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its outer side edge abutting the inner face of said frame, a top closure member of plate-like form for and mounted on and secured to the top edges of said frame, the edges of said top member being flush with the outer face of the frame, and a flexible bottom forming member having its marginal portions anchored to the bottom edges of the frame and forming, in connection with the latter and said web, a chamber for receiving an electrical heating means.

3. In an electrical heating device for chick brooders, a horizontally disposed frame having the upper portion of its inner face rabbeted throughout to provide therein and below the top thereof an endless internal shoulder, a web of asbestos fabric mounted on and throughout said shoulder and having its edges abutting the inner face of the frame below the top of the latter, a at panellike body of fibrous material mounted on and secured to said web and having its edges abutting the inner face cf said frame below the top of the latter, an intermediate and pair of outer spaced parallel flat combined retaining and spacing strips positioned on said panel-like body and having their upper faces flush with the top edges of said frame, said intermediate strip having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its outer side edge abutting the inner face of said frame, a top closure member of plate-like form for and mounted on and secured to the top edges of said frame, the edges of said top member being flush with the outer face of the frame, and a ilexible bottom forming member having its marginal portions anchored to the bottom edges of the frame and forming, in connection with the latter and said web, a chamber for receiving an electrical heating means, said outer strips being of a width greater than the width of said shoulder, said panel-like body being of greater thickness than said strips and said web.

ll. n an electrical heating device for chick brooders, a horizontally disposed frame having the upper portion of its inner face rabbeted throughout to provide therein and below the top thereof an endless internal shoulder, a heat insulating element of plate-like form mounted on and throughout said shoulder and having its edges abutting the inner face of the frame below the top of the latter, a, set of spaced parallel flat combined spacing and retaining strips for and positioned on said element, said strips having their upper faces flush with the top edges and having their ends abutting the inner face of said frame, a top member of plate-like form mounted on and secured to the top edges and ush with the outer face of said frame, a flexible bottom forming member having its marginal portions anchored in the bottom edges of the frame and forming, in connection with the latter and said element, a chamber for receiving an electrical heating means, side and end angle-shaped reinforcing members seated upon the marginal portions of said top member and abutting against the outer face of said frame, and exible suspension means anchored to the said end reinforcing members.

5. In an electrical heating device for chick brooders, a horizontally disposed frame having the upper portion of its inner face rabbeted throughout to provide therein and below the top thereof an endless internal shoulder, a web of asbestos fabric mounted on and throughout said shoulder and having its edges abutting the inner face of the frame below the top of the latter, a flat panel-like body of brous material mounted on and secured to said web and having its edges abutting the inner face of said frame below the top of the latter, an intermediate and a pair of outer spaced parallel 'flat combined retaining and spacing strips positioned on said panel-like body and having their upper faces flush with the top edges of said frame, said intermediate strip having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its outer side edge abutting the inner face of said frame, a top closure member of plate-like form for and mounted on and secured to the top edges of said frame, the edges of said top member being flush with the outer face of the frame, a flexible bottom forming member having its marginal portions anchored to the bottom edges of the frame and forming, in connection with the latter and said web, a chamber for receiving an electrical heating means, side and end angleshaped reinforcing members seated upon the marginal portions of said top member and abutting against the outer face of said frame, and flexible suspension means anchored to the said end reinforcing members.

6. In an electrical heating device for chick brooders, a horizontally disposed frame having the upper portion of its inner face rabbeted throughout to provide therein and below the top thereof an endless internal shoulder, a web of asbestos fabric mounted on and throughout said shoulder and having its edges abutting the inner face of the frame below the top of the latter, a flat panel-like body of brous material mounted on and secured to said web and having its edges abutting the inner face of said frame below the top of the latter, an intermedia-te and a pair of outer spaced parallel flat combined retaining and spacing strips positioned on said panel-like body and having their upper faces flush with the top edges of said frame, said intermediate strip having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its ends abutting parallel portions of the inner face of said frame, each of said outer strips having its outer side edge abutting the inner face of said frame, a top closure member of plate-like form for and mounted on and secured to the top edges of said frame, the edges of said top member being flush with the outer face of the frame, a flexible bottom forming member having its marginal portions anchored to the bottom edges of the frame and forming, in connection with the latter and said web, a chamber for receiving an electrical heating means, said outer strips being of a width greater than the width of said shoulder, said panel-like body being of greater thickness than said strips and said web, side and end angle-shaped reinforcing members seated upon the marginal portions of said top member and abutting against the outer face of said frame, and flexible suspension means anchored to the said end reinforcing members.

LUTY HAWKINS. 

